24 Months From Retirement?
Thoughts from a CFP® professional
Sam Buchanan
Wealth Advisor, Branning Wealth Management
Does this sound like you?
You've done everything "right." Lived below your means. Gave generously. Raised your kids and put them through college. Climbed the ladder at work. Got the full 401k match. Opened a Roth IRA years ago. You've been hoping that all these years of discipline turn into a comfortable retirement: beach trips, grandkids, the whole picture.
But now retirement is close enough that "hoping it works out" doesn't feel like enough. So you're reading articles, talking to your savvy friends, maybe even wondering what market experts say about the 4% rule.
And underneath it all is the real question: Can I retire when I want, how I want, without worrying I'll have to go back to work?
THE OLD PLAYBOOK
Here's what no longer works: "set it and forget it"
This philosophy gets a lot of airtime, from index advocates, money influencers, and plenty of others. For accumulation, it's not bad advice. The problem is when this "set it and forget it" mentality is applied to everything in their financial life, not just their 401(k).
Think of it like going to the dentist for a checkup every six months, then not brushing your teeth in between. The checkup alone won't save you.
Retirement planning works the same way. A plan isn't something you set once and ignore: it's something you revisit, adjust, and actively manage as your life and the markets change.
"Set it and forget it" was good enough to get you to this point. But here's the catch: now you can't forget it. And what, exactly, are you supposed to "set it" to?
How do you structure your investments to last the rest of your life? Decide when to take Social Security? Pay for health insurance? Preserve the nest egg? Pass money on to your kids? Plan for long-term care? Avoid handing a fortune to the IRS?
THE NEW PLAYBOOK
Plan it and enjoy it.
At our firm, we help clients plan exactly what they need from their portfolio, reduce uncertainty about life in retirement, then build a plan so the stock market stops dictating their quality of life in retirement. The goal for our clients is to give them more control. We turn retirement from a vague concept to a clear picture. Clients walk in unsure, and after we do a financial plan, they have actionable, clear levers they can pull to make great decisions and no longer feel uncertain.
This is what makes our firm unique. Clients come in and ask for a financial plan first. Through a three-meeting series, we answer all of your most pressing retirement decisions, and you walk away with to-dos, ideas, understanding, and most important, clarity on what you need to do, and sometimes not do, to ensure you can retire when you want and how you want.
At the end of the plan, clients can choose to hire us in a full-time capacity if they so choose. Click here to see our fees.
At the core, we believe you deserve to make confident money decisions. Our desire is to help you meet your financial goals, and after we plan together, you get to enjoy your money.
THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS TO REFRAME THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT RETIREMENT
- After retirement, what will I do to have structure to my day, purpose to my life, and connection with others?
- If I'm honest with myself, the part of retirement that has me the most uncertain is...?
- Am I viewing retirement as a repurposing of my time and mission or an escape from my job?
Consider writing down the answers to these questions, and sitting with them for a while. These types of questions are what I have the privilege of talking with families about as they enter into a new stage of life.
About Sam
I'm Sam Buchanan, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®. I work with families who want clear answers, counsel and accountability, and advice in the context of their personal financial situation.
I help these families keep more of what they've earned and actually enjoy it. I also work with business owners who want someone else to look at their entire complex, busy life and simplify their next steps and help them improve their personal bottom line.
Our firm uses Charles Schwab or Fidelity to custody assets. We manage investments, serve as fiduciary advisors, and are fee-only, meaning we do not sell insurance. We build detailed financial plans, help clients execute them, and welcome questions every step of the way. Each member of our team is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, and we are highly qualified, but most importantly, honored to take care of families around the country.
Ready to be in control of your retirement?